OF Bryce Harper returns to Nats' lineup

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper, just two days after being injured crashing into an outfield wall, taking 11 stitches in his chin, coasts into first on a ground-out after pinch hitting in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles Wednesday, May 15, 2013. The Dodgers won, 3-1.

Reed Saxon, Associated Press

Summary

Outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the Washington Nationals' lineup after missing two games because of a bruised left knee.

SAN FRANCISCO — Outfielder Bryce Harper is back in the Washington Nationals' lineup after missing two games because of a bruised left knee.

Harper was batting third and playing right field Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at San Francisco. Last season's NL Rookie of the Year was hurt last week when he ran into a wall at Dodger Stadium.

"Just trying to get in that lineup again and do what I can do," Harper said before batting practice at AT&T Park. "It's something where I feel like I ran into a wall at 100 mph. I'm going to feel something this day and feel something that day. I'm just trying to keep up on my knee and see what happens."

Harper did some running and work on the field before the game against the Giants. Manager Davey Johnson said Harper told him he was fine to play.

"I asked him, and he said yes," Johnson said. "He's still got some swelling in there but he did a lot of treatment. He was a little bit better yesterday afternoon and acting like he wanted to go up there and hit something."

Entering Monday, Harper was batting .297 with 11 home runs and 22 RBIs for the Nationals, second in the NL East behind Atlanta.

The 20-year-old Harper ran face-first into the wall last Monday in a scary collision against the Dodgers and needed 11 stitches in his chin. He was trying to chase down a long fly by A.J. Ellis.

The impact sent Harper's cap flying as he bounced off the wall and fell to the ground. Center fielder Denard Span had to come in to field the ball. Harper rolled onto his back and eventually got up under his own power.

Whether his body allows him to play every day this week, Harper said he wouldn't know until he tested his sore body through a full game.

"We'll see how I feel after the game tonight and go from there," he said.